April 23, 2016

EMERSON, GA. — With a 4-1 victory over third-seeded, 10th-ranked Florida International on Saturday, the South Carolina beach volleyball team punched their ticket to the semifinals of the CCSA Conference Tournament at the Lakepoint Sporting Community in Emerson, Ga.

The victory over the Panthers will go down in the record books for the Gamecocks as the first-ever win over a top-ten team. This year’s team will go down in history for the first-ever 20-win season. After falling to LSU earlier in the day and defeating FIU, South Carolina is now 20-15 on the season.

Carolina went 1-2 in pool play after defeating UAB but falling to No. 3 Florida State and LSU. The one victory was all the Gamecocks needed to face FIU in the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon.

The Gamecocks fell to Florida International 3-2 earlier this season at the Surf and Turf Classic in Miami, but took full advantage of their rematch with the Panthers today. South Carolina earned straight-sets victories at Nos. 1 and 2 and took the remaining three courts to three sets.

Florida International claimed their only point at the No. 4 spot, but South Carolina responded with a win in the No. 3 position to clinch the match for Carolina.

South Carolina is back in action Sunday morning at 8 a.m. as they are presented with a rematch against top-seeded Florida State.

Dual Results
#4 LSU 5, #5 South Carolina 0
1. Katie Lindelow/Ashley Allmer (LSU) def. Julia Mannisto/Shannon Williams (SC) 21-12, 22-20
2. Helen Boyle/Lilly Kessler (LSU) def. Sarah Blomgren/Aubrey Ezell (SC) 20-22, 21-10, 15-7
3. Cati Leak/Callan Molle (LSU) def. Macie Tendrich/Katie Reilly (SC) 16-21, 23-21, 16-14
4. Mandi Orellana/Riley Young (LSU) def. Jade Vitt/Delaney Wood (SC) 21-11, 21-18
5. Cheyenne Wood/Megan Davenport (LSU) def. Erin Neuenfeldt/Litsa Darby (SC) 21-19, 21-10

Order of Finish: 4, 5, 1, 2, 3

#5 South Carolina 4, #3 Florida International
1. Julia Mannisto/Shannon Williams (SC) def. Gloria Levorin/Marina Boulanger (FIU) 27-25, 21-11
2. Sarah Blomgren/Aubrey Ezell (SC) def. Dominique Dodd/Katie Hogan (FIU) 21-19, 21-17
3. Macie Tendrich/Katie Reilly (SC) def. Martyna Gluchowicz/Estefanie Bethancourt (FIU) 15-21, 21-16, 15-11
4. Aren Cupp/Tina Toghyani (FIU) def. Jade Vitt/Delaney Wood (SC) 13-21, 21-15, 15-5
5. Erin Neuenfeldt/Litsa Darby (SC) def. Savannah Davis/Natalia Giron (FIU) 12-21, 21-18, 15-12

Order of Finish: 2, 1, 4, 3, 5